The pictures — almost all of which feature both Christie and Obama – are sure to raise the ire of conservatives, who are already bemoaning the New Jersey Republican's sudden embrace of the president.

So far, we have bought that Christie has been legitimately putting politics aside while his state attempts to recover from the most devastating storm in its history. But these pictures seem a little gratuitous.

It's worth remembering that Christie is coming up for re-election in a state that will almost certainly go to Obama next week, so this bipartisanship is likely to benefit his image. Or something else might be afoot behind the scenes….